Feel like an absolute moron!

Okay, so today I am 37 weeks, 4 days and I have been having BH contrax on a regular basis for weeks and weeks.. they are really strong in the evenings but up until last night I just gritted my teeth and got through it.. after a couple of hours they would die down.. then last night they picked up HARD.. even able to see a pattern.. Luckily, I thought, I have a doc appt this morning at 10am .. I will just hold on until then. I woke up this morning and did the status quo for my DD's.. on my feet for a couple of hours prior to the appt... really thought.. "okay, I think I actually might be going into labor!"

SO, I went in and the doctor was very understanding and checked my cervix... ZERO progress... NO dilation.. nothing!!!!!! Now, I know it is better for my little one to stay where he is at for a couple more weeks and I am fine with that.. but the doctor said.. why don't we monitor you in L&D for awhile and we can go from there.. I have a c-section scheduled for 2 weeks from today.. so, they hook me up to the monitors and NOTHING!!!!!!! for 20 minutes.. then just 6-7 contractions in an hour. I felt like such an idiot! Needless to say, they sent me home. Within an hour of being home the hard contractions started up again.. really body? Really? I don't know.. maybe it has to do with chasing after the twins... but I just feel so dumb for even allowing them to admit me!

One good thing though... with no progress it makes it easier to see that a scheduled c-section may be the right answer after all...

1) The pre-labour cervix is not a magic eight ball! This blog post explains why.

2) What you are experiencing is prodromal labour (you can read some more here, including some coping tips) and while it can be very frustrating to go through all those contractions only to find out that you aren't dilating, your body IS preparing for labour. Did your doctor comment on the position of your cervix (posterior or anterior)? The cervix is posterior (facing towards your back) during pregnancy but needs to be anterior (facing towards your front) for it to begin dilating. Prodromal labour contractions help that movement to happen. Did your doctor comment on the "feel" of your cervix (firm or soft)? The cervix is usually quite firm during pregnancy, but needs to soften before it can begin effacing & dilating. Again, prodromal labour contractions help that happen. These things need to happen before the contractions can begin effacing & dilating your cervix.

Hang in there! The waiting game at the end of pregnancy is so tough. :hug:

Don't feel stupid! I always tell false labor moms that it is like taking your car to the mechanic...it makes a terrible sound and then magically stops when the mechanic tries to hear it. Hang in there!!

I went into labour with my DD, with no dilation at all, so don't feel stupid. As I've been told so many times, always get it checked and I'm like you, feeling silly afterwards... but really isn't it better to know that everything's ok rather than get caught in a situation you're not prepared for...?

Don't feel stupid at all!!! I drove myself to the hospital in the middle of the night at 36 weeks pregnant because I thought I was in labor (consistent, strong period-like cramping). I was monitored... no contractions... no dilation... sent home feeling really dumb. Less than 24 hours later, Ryan was born. Trust your body! It won't be long now!! I will be thinking of you in the coming weeks

With my last ds I maybe was a half a cm if that and maybe 20% effaced when I was induced at 39 weeks 2 days. My OB thought that I would have already had him. With him being my 5th and having twins 3 years before. So maybe you won't dilate before your c-sec. GL